Thanx to my mother, photography has become a hobby of mine. Seeing the pictures taken by Big Poppa E, Queue and Grandma Dave, has pushed me to continue taking pictures. i only got serious about photography within the last five years. while its an form of art where money can be made, Im not sure if it would be something i could do as a profession. i did have a picture of poet Wally B from Florida used for an article. Having the freedom to take pictures when and where i choose, is a beautiful thing to me. There is no pressure to take the 'perfect' shot. Sometimes, i will take a picture that leaves me in awe and not believing I took it. especially since i dont use a fancy camera with a zoom lens, just an inexpensive Kodak.
I enjoy taking action shots at open mics and slams....i wait for that moment where the poet/poets are being the most expressive. up close and personal are the best shots to me, hence the facial shots. Yea, the pics of the poet just standing in front of the mic are cool but boring. i wanna see the pain, hurt, joy and laughter of the poet. thats when the poet is performing from the 'soul'....
the only negative to taking pictures, which are posted for free, is from those who use a picture without giving credit or a thank you. yes, i do this out of love..but that doesnt mean credit shouldnt be givin.
With me being on a team this year, I had no plans of taking photographs at NPS this year. The kind words of Paradox(thank you brother), moved me to put down the video camera and start taking pictures again. after looking at the pictures taken, im glad Paradox spoke to me. just knowing someone appreciates what you do, makes its worth doing.....
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
***sigh***
On Monday, my babygirl will be a freshman in high school. where is the baby that:
used to fit so snug in my arm.
thought hot dogs were the greatest meal ever....ever!
used to ride on my neck, while using my head as a bongo.
would hide behind me for protection
made me eat the plastic hamburgers and hot dogs that she 'made'.
used to fall asleep on my chest.
looked so cute in her cherry dress, that we put it on her ALL the time.
spoke a language that only her mother and i could understand.
gave the greatest hugs!
i miss that child but im excited to see the woman she will become. She is still beautiful, i still like to watch her sleep and she still gives the greatest hugs.
***sigh***
my babygirl is growing up.
Monday, August 13, 2007
My NPS Highlights...pt. 1
in no certain order....
1. seeing old friends, making new ones and listening to the words. which is what NPS is all about, at least for me.
2. Getting to perform at Nationals with a GREAT group of poets from St. Louis Slam. it was a great experience.
3. Finally being able to wear the 'poet' badge week.
4. playing freeze tag and musical chairs in the after hours room at the Hyatt! that was the hottness for the week!!
5. seeing the poets sitting around the cooler containing the 'happy juice' Erica made. i knew poets liked fruit....but damn.
6. a legend poet (whom i didnt know knew my name) reminding me to take pictures because he enjoyed looking at them. before that, i was only interested in videotaping nationals.
7. Watchin Slam Charlotte wreckshop on the Finals stage! im very proud of the entire Charlotte slam scene.
8. Hugs....all the hugs that were givin and recieved all week.
9. Christopher Michael making it happen on finals stage as an indie and with his team. also for giving me a ride back to the hotel after finals.
10. the beef brisket Whoopie Cat cooked up Monday night. to say it was good, would not be doing it justice!
11. the Austin NPS staff for doing such a great job....im going to miss Austin
12. Karaoke at Ego's....poets + alcohol = we dont need a damn machine to sing!
13. Shannon Leigh rockin the hell out of the Indie's final stage!
14. the volunteers for putting up with the poets....and not killing anyone.
15. whataburger being open 24 hours.
16. Gabrielle Bouliane's outfit at the Erotic Reading....and Ed Mabrey, Adriana Ramirez, and Ragan Fox being three crazy judges.
thats it for now....more later
1. seeing old friends, making new ones and listening to the words. which is what NPS is all about, at least for me.
2. Getting to perform at Nationals with a GREAT group of poets from St. Louis Slam. it was a great experience.
3. Finally being able to wear the 'poet' badge week.
4. playing freeze tag and musical chairs in the after hours room at the Hyatt! that was the hottness for the week!!
5. seeing the poets sitting around the cooler containing the 'happy juice' Erica made. i knew poets liked fruit....but damn.
6. a legend poet (whom i didnt know knew my name) reminding me to take pictures because he enjoyed looking at them. before that, i was only interested in videotaping nationals.
7. Watchin Slam Charlotte wreckshop on the Finals stage! im very proud of the entire Charlotte slam scene.
8. Hugs....all the hugs that were givin and recieved all week.
9. Christopher Michael making it happen on finals stage as an indie and with his team. also for giving me a ride back to the hotel after finals.
10. the beef brisket Whoopie Cat cooked up Monday night. to say it was good, would not be doing it justice!
11. the Austin NPS staff for doing such a great job....im going to miss Austin
12. Karaoke at Ego's....poets + alcohol = we dont need a damn machine to sing!
13. Shannon Leigh rockin the hell out of the Indie's final stage!
14. the volunteers for putting up with the poets....and not killing anyone.
15. whataburger being open 24 hours.
16. Gabrielle Bouliane's outfit at the Erotic Reading....and Ed Mabrey, Adriana Ramirez, and Ragan Fox being three crazy judges.
thats it for now....more later
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
National Poetry Slam....Day One
Ok, we made it to Austin yesterday evening......after leaving St.Louis at 7:45 am. Why, did we get in so late? well, we had a SEVEN hour layover in Dallas! Normally i would have flipped because of this BUT, the layover turned out to be a good thing. Our slam master's father, who lives outside of Dallas, ventured into the city to pick us up....and this wonderful man; took us to Ihop (paid for it ), showed us where Kennedy got shot, waited while we took pictures, listened to the REAL story of WHY Kennedy was killed and soaked up the Dallas morning sun. then, he took some of the team to a thrift store, while taking others to CVS before taking us back to the airport. not once did he complain about us taking too long at the Kennedy site, the thrift store or the price of gas, he just drove! how kewl is that?
We get to Austin. at this point, we are a group of dead tired poets...who had short naps here and there, you would think that sleep would be the main mission after checkin in, right? NOPE! we venture to the host hotel, where i see 13 and Erika from Neeee Ooooo, who tell us to hit Ruta Maya's where the slam family is having a hangin out and getting free BBQ! we get there, i pass the bbq up to see who is on the inside but not before speaking to some of my Neeeee Oooooo fam (sup Eb and Angel). after seeing who is all on the inside and getting hugs (had to get one from my sis Delrica), i head back outside for the food! THAT, turned out to be the best choice of the day because the BBQ, was damn good! i have been slippin on the pork intake of late, so i stuck with the beef brisket. once i started, i couldnt stop eating the damn brisket! yes, it was THAT good. i should have taken some for later that night but forgot too (our rooms have kitchens).
Back on the inside, folks are chillin and talking. Paulie Lippman from Denver getting on the 1's and 2's (those are turntables for those that dont know) and starts with the throwback music. my partna, Jive Poetic from NY and i start clowning, we are joined by Funk Doc from DC - Baltimore for a contest of: Remember This Dance. We are then joined Mo Browne, who shows us a couple of moves while grooving to a Rufas and Chaka Kahn song....i cant remember what the next song was BUT...next thing i know, Mo and Jive are doing a lil "dirty dancing"...lol. we were all cryin from laughin so much.....
I chilled for a minute, ate more beef brisket and talked with other poets before heading back to the hotel to practice. we go over the what's, the who's and the why's...some of the team, turns in to get some much needed sleep...others head of to the host hotel for some late night hanging out (im in this bunch). there were a couple of people outside and in...so, we chilled for a bit before returning to our rooms.
im still in awe of wearing the poet badge this year, so it was good to have a chance to relax, see the slam fam again and kick it before the slam begins. im still a lil nervous but ready to slam and make it happen!
In words of Johnny Drama.........VICTORY!!!
We get to Austin. at this point, we are a group of dead tired poets...who had short naps here and there, you would think that sleep would be the main mission after checkin in, right? NOPE! we venture to the host hotel, where i see 13 and Erika from Neeee Ooooo, who tell us to hit Ruta Maya's where the slam family is having a hangin out and getting free BBQ! we get there, i pass the bbq up to see who is on the inside but not before speaking to some of my Neeeee Oooooo fam (sup Eb and Angel). after seeing who is all on the inside and getting hugs (had to get one from my sis Delrica), i head back outside for the food! THAT, turned out to be the best choice of the day because the BBQ, was damn good! i have been slippin on the pork intake of late, so i stuck with the beef brisket. once i started, i couldnt stop eating the damn brisket! yes, it was THAT good. i should have taken some for later that night but forgot too (our rooms have kitchens).
Back on the inside, folks are chillin and talking. Paulie Lippman from Denver getting on the 1's and 2's (those are turntables for those that dont know) and starts with the throwback music. my partna, Jive Poetic from NY and i start clowning, we are joined by Funk Doc from DC - Baltimore for a contest of: Remember This Dance. We are then joined Mo Browne, who shows us a couple of moves while grooving to a Rufas and Chaka Kahn song....i cant remember what the next song was BUT...next thing i know, Mo and Jive are doing a lil "dirty dancing"...lol. we were all cryin from laughin so much.....
I chilled for a minute, ate more beef brisket and talked with other poets before heading back to the hotel to practice. we go over the what's, the who's and the why's...some of the team, turns in to get some much needed sleep...others head of to the host hotel for some late night hanging out (im in this bunch). there were a couple of people outside and in...so, we chilled for a bit before returning to our rooms.
im still in awe of wearing the poet badge this year, so it was good to have a chance to relax, see the slam fam again and kick it before the slam begins. im still a lil nervous but ready to slam and make it happen!
In words of Johnny Drama.........VICTORY!!!
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